Gladys P. Todd Post Office

Floor Speech

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Ms. SPANBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an extraordinary Virginian, Gladys P. Todd, whose legacy of service, advocacy, and dedication to advancing civil rights has left an indelible mark on the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and beyond.

I am proud to lead legislation to rename a post office in Fredericksburg to the Gladys P. Todd Post Office in recognition of her pioneering work and her relentless advocacy.

Mrs. Todd was a force for justice and a force for good. She was an organizer, an educator, and a lifelong member of the NAACP. She fought for equality and opportunity, and she was active in the local civil rights movement across Fredericksburg and the greater Commonwealth. She was known for her tireless work with the NAACP Youth Division, where she helped Black children and teens learn, grow, and thrive.

From establishing a playground to founding the Youth Canteen, a community center for young local students, she worked to make sure that young people across Fredericksburg had a safe place to connect, learn, and grow.

Mrs. Todd was also a passionate voting rights advocate. Her work played a pivotal role in the election of Fredericksburg's first Black mayor. She made Fredericksburg a more inclusive and equitable place, and her work continues to inspire the community today.

Renaming this post office in her honor is a small but meaningful way to guarantee that her contributions are remembered for generations and that her work is present far into the future.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues from Virginia for their unanimous support of this legislation. As we are looking to honor this incredible woman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

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